Talya Tate Boerner

Gracie Lee lives on a farm with her mother, father, little sister and their dog Lucky. She is a nervous worried child, always anxious over everything from whether she will drown during her baptism to how many beers her father has consumed, to what has become of the man from the "pretty gray house." Gracie's mom plays piano at their church. Gracie decides one day during the invitational hymn to go up and speak to Brother Brown about praying for her heavy drinking father with the nasty disposition. From that point on Brother Brown becomes somewhat of a confidante for Gracie as she struggles through a difficult home life.
As a fan of historical fiction I enjoyed this story, set in the 70s, with references to Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Nixon. I did feel it started off a bit slowly but it was definitely worth sticking with to the end.

I received an advance copy for review… (mere)

OH my god what an awesomely written flashback in time for me! Gracie is living the life many of us had in the 60's.....with similar homes, parents, fears, sensitivities and hopes, hers on a cotton farm in Arkansas.
I do remember tip- toeing around cuz dad was home,and escape to the outside was the goal. She loved him....she feared him. Her younger sister Abby was her pal, and hiding under bed where the cracked slats and dust never changed, was her hideout.

A lot of the pages made me laugh, MOST brought back vivid memories, some brought tears.
Talya Tate Boerner leaves herself behind as she morphs into the body and soul of Gracie Lee Eudora Abbott.
( i DO recall sitting on the living room floor while my mum ironed.... and flapped her arms and swung her legs with Jack LaLane!)… (mere)